Teething device for infants



- p 1927 J. A. PALMER TEETHING DEVICE FOR INFANTS Filed July 12, 1926 INVENTOR. Li a/n as .1 Poi/"0r A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. PALMER, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T TAUNTON PEARL WORKS, INC., 015' TAUN'ION, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF ZMASSACHUSETTS.

TEETHING DEVICE FOR INFANTS.

Application filed July 12, 1926. Serial No. 121,748.

This invention relates to a teething device, more particularly adapted for use by infants; and the object of this invention is to provide a simple yet ornamental and use ful device which may be used by infants to assist in cutting of teeth.

A further object of the invention is to proide a guard on the device to prevent the infant from inserting the same an excessive distance into his mouth and swallowing the same.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved teething device with a ribbon attached thereto to suspend the same from the neck of an infant.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the body portion of the device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the guard member carried by the body portion.

Figure 4; is a side elevation of the ring used for holding the guard in position and for attaching the device to a ribbon, chain or the like.

It is found in the manufacture and shaping of pearls for use on different articles of manufacture that a portion of the pearls adjacent the apex of the shell is unusually hard and cannot be out by the ordinary tools used and further that it is of irregular grain and liable to chip. Therefore, this portion of the shell has heretofore been discarded as scrap.

This invention provides a use for this heretofore discarded scrap pearl by utilizing the apex portion of the shell as the body portion of this improved teething device, and further, in order to prevent the body portion from being inserted into the infants mouth to an excessive distance and swallowed a guard is provided to prevent such an occurrence; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention and showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the body portion of the device which is formed from real mother-of-pearl, the same having a reduced neck portion 11 and shoulders 12 ateither side of the neck portion, a guard plate 13 having an opening 14 therein sets over the neck portion 11 and rests against the shoulders 12.

This opening 14L may be suitably beveled as at 15 to seat snugly upon the neck and shoulders. An opening 16 is provided through the neck portion and a ring 17 is inserted through this opening 16 and engages the top or side of the guard plate distal from the body 10 to hold the guard plate against the shoulders and in desired position on the device.

The ring 17 in addition to locking the guard plate on the device also provides a means for attaching a ribbon 18 for suspending the device about the neck as a pendant so that it may not become dropped upon the floor to become dirty which is frequently the case with infants, or lost.

The above device when made from real mother-of-pearl or the like is exceedingly handsome and attractive in appearance and yet serves the useful function of providing an inexpensive and eflicient device for use so by infants and assist in the cutting of teeth.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the 35 mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. A teething device for infants, comprising a body portion formed of mother-ofpearl, the upper portion of the body being reduced to form a shoulder having .an integral neck extending therefrom with a 95 hole therethrough, a guard plate resting on said shoulder and having an opening through which the neck extends, and attaching means extending through said opening on the distal side of said plate from said shoulder to prevent disengagement of said guard plate from the body.

2. A teething device for infants, comprising a body portion formed of a flat solid plate of mother-of-pearl from the apex of the shell, the upper portion of the body being reduced on a taper toform a shouldered neck with a hole therethrough, a guard plate 10 of mother-of-pearl having an opening With undercut beveled edges complemental to the taper of said neck and seating thereon, and a ring passing through said opening to engage said guard plate and prevent it from 15 removal from said neck.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES A. PALMER. 

